Advanced Assistance Systems in the Process Industry: A Classification Attempt

The high complexity and the demand for increased efficiency of process plants as well as the demographic change cause numerous challenges for the plant operators. In addition, Remote Operation, the vast interconnectedness and the increasing plants autonomy as part of the Industrie 4.0 initiative lead to fundamental changes in the working conditions of operating personnel. Hence, new concepts and solutions are required to maintain their capability to act. One possible solution is the application of advanced assistance systems. This article presents a definition and a classification model to describe advanced assistance systems in the process industry. The classification model reveals the solution space for assistance in the process industry, and thereby allows a utilizable design of those.